Need a good side dish to go with your sushi at Sushi Hana? Try a bowl of edamame! These boiled soybeans are a popular appetizer in many Japanese restaurants, well-loved not only for their good taste but for their healthy attributes.
What makes edamame so valuable is that it is a “complete protein”, which is hard to find outside of an animal product. This means that it gives you all nine essential amino acids. Edamame is the only vegetable that can boast this quality, which explains why soybeans are such a significant vegetarian alternative to meats. A single half cup of edamame gives you over eleven grams of protein, as well as a healthy serving of calcium, iron, vitamin C, several B vitamins, and zinc.
Edamame is boiled while it is still in its shell, and frequently mixed with salt for flavor. Diners pop the bean out of its shell with their teeth and discard the inedible husk in the provided bowl. Try it out for yourself at Sushi Hana in Bothell!